Ok, this didn’t happen here in Hong Kong but it is just too funny not to share!

Those of you who understand some Mandarin Chinese will hear that the poor bride had just found out that her groom is gay when the lover turned up at the wedding to demand his lover back.

A ‘war-of-words’ and some attempted slapping ensues after which the suitor grabs his man and takes off.

Watch:

Like they say here in Hong Kong: “That was so fun!“

In December last year, we wrote about the architecturally interesting St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Causeway Bay (on the way to Hong Kong Stadium).

The western church building is built in a mostly traditional Chinese style and even the pews sport Chinese and Christian characters.

I recently found an interesting programme on RTHK’s Hong Kong Stories series of television programmes, as a way of following up on my 2010 post. It deals with historical buildings around the Territory and includes the St Mary’s Church building as well as another beautiful building, the Catholic Cathedral in Cane Road, Central.

In addition to unpacking the relationship between Chinese religious architecture and western religion, the RTHK programme tells us more about the rich history of St Mary’s and how it came to being.

Click on the LINK to view it.  (The part about St Mary’s is about 3/4 into the insert.)

(Images from RTHK)

The annual fireworks extravaganza to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, took place last night (Friday 4 February 2011) over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

About 300,000 people gathered on either side of Victoria Harbour on Tsim Sha Tsui- and Central-side to watch the display.

Many more watched from boats and other water-craft parked a safe distance outside our apartment window as you can see from the first clip in the video below.

The fireworks display lasted for exactly 23 minutes and 23 seconds which must have some auspicious significance.

Below is a shortened clip of the 23 minute display:

One of my favourite features of Chinese New Year (other than the 2-week holidays so soon after the Christmas break) is the sight of the lovely pink plum blossoms all over the territory.

But where does the tradition come from?

Flowers are an important part of the Chinese New Year celebrations and decorations.

In old China, much use was made of natural products like flowers in celebrations as well as everyday life.

The two flowers most-associated with Chinese New Year is the water narcissus and the plum blossom.

The plum blossom stands for courage and hope as the beautiful pink blossom springs to life from a seemingly lifeless, gray branch.

The plum tree in my apartment’s lobby at first glance, seems like a fake, what with it’s gray, lifeless-looking branches.  On closer inspection though, one sees the pink flowers and notices that it’s actual flowers.

Part of the tradition is to hang red envelopes or “lucky paper” (sheets of red paper with Chinese couplets printed in gold) from the branches.

Here is the plum tree in the lobby downstairs:

Read more on 123chinesenewyear.com/symbols/

Chinese tradition calls for families to visit each other on Lunar Year’s day and here in my neck-of-the-woods I could see the effects.

Whampoa Garden was very quiet this morning with only a few people picking up last-minute gifts, etc.

However, following up on a previous post, Miffy was still the centre of attraction:

The ship is actually the Jusco Department Store (Pics: Mike Jansen)

In the old days, there was a monster who lived near a village.

This monster was called ‘Year Monster‘. It didn’t like red and it didn’t like noise.

Villagers would stick red paper on their doors and red fire crackers were lit to make loud noises so as to scare the monster. When the villagers knew that the monster had gone, they would greet and bless each other.

That’s why Chinese people lit fire crackers and stick red blessing notes on their doors.

In the first week and up to the first month, people visit their own families, relatives and friends to greet each other. Everybody dress up in new clothes.

Lai See/Lucky packets

Edible things like biscuits, chocolate or fruits will be given to the host as presents and the host has to return a small red packet with money to return the luck. When people meet, they wish each other good luck and married couples have to give ‘lai see‘ (red packet with money) to children and not married adults (not too old though, maybe under mid 20). ‘Lai see‘ means luck so when one gives out ‘lai see‘, that means he has plenty of luck to share with others. Therefore, when a couple sees a child, they have to give out 2 ‘lai see‘.

Unlucky words and curses are completely forbidden during Chinese New Year.

A new tradition now is to send Chinese New Year greeting cards. In the past this was not done but now that families are so spread out around the world people send cards with the good wishes for the New Year. And now that we live in the internet world you can even send Chinese New Year Greeting Cards.

(From: HKfastfacts.com)

Flowers are a key part of the Lunar New Year celebrations

Unlike before, where the annual Chinese New Year Night Parade extended all the way to East Tsim Sha Tsui, the Parade will this time around be limited to Tsim Sha Tsui.

The Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade is one of the best-loved events of the entire Chinese New Year celebrations and certainly a must-see on my family’s list.

The theme this years is World City, World Party and as always the parade features illuminated floats accompanied by spectacular international and local performing groups.  In previous years some South African troupes were flown in, although I don’t remember any Saffas taking part last year.

There is always a carnival atmosphere as festive crowds line the route around Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the colourful parade pass by, but if you don’t want to be in those throngs, you can always purchase a ticket that will guarantee you a great vantage point from a raised platform.

Tickets will go on sale from Saturday 22 January at HK$350/ $300/ $220/ $180 per person.  These are for spectator stands with seating at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, Canton Road, Nathan Road and Salisbury Road.

The Night Parade is truly an international event in that it doesn’t only include Chinese culture and performers.  My favourite international act is, of course, the cheerleaders from the good ol’ US of A!

Here is your invitation to this year’s Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade:

This is what happened at the Night Parade last year:

Despite all the international acts, the Chinese cultural acts are THE draw-card for the crowds!

2010 (and up to now) has been the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese calendar.

However, ask anyone at Disney head-office and they will probably tell you it’s the “Year of the Tigger.”

I can’t tell you how many Chinese Tigger’s I’ve seen around Hong Kong this past year.  My kids still have their soft-toy Tiggers issued with a McDonald’s Happy Meal last Chinese New Year.

It was the same when we celebrated the Year of the Rat and Mickey and Minnie Mouse taking the honours here in Asia.

However, with the next Lunar Year being the Year of the Rabbit, so far it seems as if the character-of-choice for the next Chinese New Year will be non-Disney.

Here in my my neck of the woods statues of Miffy have been springing up all over Whampoa Garden.

It is interesting to note that, while Miffy is hugely popular here in Asia, it is actually a Dutch invention that is called “konijntje” meaning “little rabbit” in the land of tulips and girls-in-glass-fronted-windows.

This is what Whampoa Garden looks like:

My kids love this time of the year. Anything that gives them time off school is good, they reason. 

The schoolyear recently resumed after the two-week Christmas/New Year holidays, then after a four-week stint back at school, it’s off to the Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year break they go! 

The biggest festival on the Chinese calendar falls between 1 February – 12 February 2011. 

Chinese New Year starts on 3 February 2011.

This year it is the turn of the Year of Rabbit.